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Scite is a research platform that analyzes how scientific papers cite each other, showing whether findings have been ...

Updated Jun 2026· 80/100
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About Scite

Scite is a research platform that analyzes how scientific papers cite each other, showing whether findings have been supported or contradicted by later research. It searches across 280M+ full-text articles, preprints, books, patents, and datasets, with an AI assistant that grounds answers in peer-reviewed sources. Pricing starts at $20/month for individual researchers.

Scite is a citation analysis and research platform designed for academics, students, and journalists who need to verify the reliability of scientific sources. It searches across more than 280 million full-text articles, preprints, books, patents, and datasets, going beyond abstracts to show what's actually inside the research. The platform's Smart Citations feature classifies how papers cite each other—whether a finding has been supported, contradicted, or simply mentioned—helping users understand the real impact and credibility of research claims. Scite also includes an AI assistant that answers questions grounded in peer-reviewed literature rather than generating unsourced content, and offers tools like custom dashboards, citation alerts, and integrations with Zotero.

Pros & cons

Pros

  • Smart Citations show whether papers support, contradict, or mention findings, providing context beyond simple citation counts
  • Searches full-text content across 280M+ articles, preprints, books, patents, and datasets—not just abstracts
  • AI assistant grounds answers in real peer-reviewed papers rather than generating unsourced content
  • Users report it saves significant time in the research process and helps avoid citing unreliable sources
  • Integrates with Zotero and offers browser extensions, custom dashboards, and citation alerts

Cons

  • Search feature occasionally freezes when working with folders and requires a restart, according to user reviews
  • Could benefit from better contextual understanding of some search queries, though resources found are generally strong
  • No free plan available—only a 7-day free trial before paid subscription is required
  • Pricing may be steep for individual students or casual users compared to free alternatives like Semantic Scholar

Pricing plans

Basic
$20 / month
  • Scite Assistant
  • Full-text search
  • Custom dashboards
  • 1,000-paper collections
  • Citation alerts
  • 250 MCP credits per month
Pro
$50 / month
  • All Basic features
  • 2,500 MCP credits per month
  • 10,000-paper collections
  • Patents in search and assistant
  • MCP access to additional datasets
Team
$50 / month
  • All Pro features
  • Centralized billing for up to 20 users
  • Add or remove members anytime
  • Pro features for every seat
  • User analytics

Key features

Api
Team Collaboration
Browser Extension

Compare key features

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Feature
Scite
You.com
Semantic Scholar
Pricing
Freemium
Freemium
Freemium
Free plan
No
Yes
Yes
Free trial
Yes
No
No
API
Yes
Yes
Yes
Self-hosted
No
No
No
Team support
Yes
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Frequently asked questions

Is Scite free?+

Scite does not offer a free plan. It operates on a freemium model with a 7-day free trial, after which users must subscribe to a paid plan starting at $20/month for the Basic tier. Student discounts of 30-50% are available on paid plans.

What does Scite integrate with?+

Scite offers a Zotero plugin, browser extensions, and MCP (Model Context Protocol) access. The platform also provides embedded badges and API access, though specific integration details for other research tools were not extensively documented in available research.

How does Scite compare to alternatives?+

Scite's Smart Citations feature is uniquely useful for checking how papers cite each other and whether findings are supported or contradicted. Alternatives like Semantic Scholar offer free citation tracking but without Scite's citation context classification. Users often recommend using Scite alongside tools like Elicit (for finding papers) and Consensus (for understanding disagreements) rather than as a replacement.

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